Aaron Jungreis takes the lead on every transaction brokered by his firm, Rosewood Realty Group. It’s a punishing commitment: The firm closed over 60 sales north of $1 million in 2017. Does he ever think of letting his team drive a deal?
“I have considered it, but my clients won’t let me,” Jungreis said during an interview with The Real Deal’s Mark Maurer. “I’m very dedicated – I go literally 25/7. So would I like to step back? I really would actually, because I have a great relationship with my wife and kids, so I always feel like I’m missing out on that.”
Jungreis co-founded the NoMad-based firm in 2007 with David Berger and grew the 10-broker shop into one of New York’s top investment-sales brokerages. Rosewood competes with the likes of Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE, placing fifth in TRD’s recent annual ranking of investment sales firms with $1.25 billion. The firm has a major presence on the multifamily front in the outer boroughs, particularly in Queens and the Bronx. Jungreis just brokered Isaac Kassirer’s $116 million purchase of four Upper West Side buildings.
In the interview, Jungreis looked back on his pre-real estate career – working in life insurance and then advertising sales for the Jewish Press.
“What I didn’t like about life insurance was they told you you had to call your friends and family, and I felt like I didn’t want to pressure them,” he said. “And that’s maybe why I wasn’t good at it.”
He also weighed in on the recent rebound in the multifamily market, investing in real estate on the side, and divulged the origin of the name “Rosewood.” And no, it wasn’t his sled.
Video produced by Jhila Farzaneh and Kerry Barger. Interview conducted by Mark Maurer